This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Smith, A. L. Articles by Kennedy, L. C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Magnetorheological Fluid Fan Drive for Trucks

General Motors R&D and Planning, 30500 Mound Rd, Warren, Michigan 48090 USA, anthony.l.smith{at}gm.com

John C. Ulicny

General Motors R&D and Planning, 30500 Mound Rd, Warren, Michigan 48090 USA

Lawrence C. Kennedy

Behr America, Inc., 2700 Daley Dr, Troy, Michigan 48083 USA

A magnetorheological fluid (MRF) fan drive prototype for automotive truck application is designed and tested for both performance and durability. A dual concentric gap with drum rotor design is chosen to meet the required torque capacity, packaging, and mass constraints. Finite element magnetostatic modeling is performed to size the electromagnetic circuit and achieve the desired flux density levels in the MR fluid gaps. The clutch is filled with a custom-formulated MR fluid. Performance testing shows excellent speed control and response. The required 40 N-m torque capacity is achieved along with low drag speed, which is a key design characteristic of the fan drive. The clutch successfully passed several 500 h durability tests in a test cell environment. Performance testing indicates that the MRF clutch maintains its required torque capacity with very little increase in drag speed over the duration of the tests indicating no fluid thickening issues. The total dissipated energy in these tests is about 3.8 GJ. The total specific dissipated energy for these tests is more than seven times higher than the 10⁷ J/cm³ upper limit previously suggested in the literature.

Key Words: magnetorheological • control • actuator • automotive • durability • fan drive.

References

• Carlson, J.D. 2002. ``What Makes a Good MR Fluid?,'' Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 13(7—8): 431—435.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Jones, W.P. 1953. ``Magnetic Mixtures for Clutch Application,'' AIEE Transactions, 72: 88—92.
• Lord Corporation, Inc. 2006. FAQS — Attributes of MR Materials. viewed 10 May 2006, <http://www.lord.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2038&pid=3>
• Misiti, M., Misiti, Y., Oppenheim, G. and Poggi, J.M. 2005. Wavelet Toolbox User's Guide, Version 3, The MathWorks, Natick, MA.
• Moser, G., Sommer, G., Usoro, P.B. and Smith, A.L. 2000a. ``Viscous Clutch Assembly,'' US Patent 6,032,772.
• Moser, G., Sommer, G., Usoro, P.B. and Smith, A.L. 2000b. ``Viscous Clutch Assembly,'' US Patent 6,102,177.
• Moser, G., Sommer, G., Usoro, P.B. and Smith, A.L. 2001. ``Viscous Clutch Assembly,'' US Patent 6,173,823.
• Rabinow, J. 1948. ``The Magnetic Fluid Clutch,'' AIEE Transactions, 67:1308—1315.
• Smith, A.L. and Usoro, P.B. 2003. ``Method for Slip Power Management of a Controllable Viscous Fan Drive,'' US Patent 6,648,115.
• Ulicny, J.C., Smith, A.L., Golden, M.A. and Hayden, C.A. 2005. ``Magnetorheological Fluids with Stearate and Thiophosphate Additives,'' US Patent 6,881,353.
• Usoro, P.B., Smith, A.L., Kao, C.K., Moser, G. and Sommer, G. 2001. ``Magnetorheological Fluid Clutch,'' US Patent 6,318,531.

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 18, No. 12, 1131-1136 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1045389X07083136


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Smith, A. L. Articles by Kennedy, L. C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?